#i want to join him as the last man on earth...we could repopulate ..who knows?

[ilovemesomevincentprice]

Vincent Price - The Last Man On Earth (1964)

[n1ght5h4d3-24]

The AntiChrist and the Nephilims (Chapter 2)

{Previously}

The next day, Piper and Jack had already been awake when morning came around. However, Piper darted out of the room when she heard a scream. Jack followed his sister and the two of them arrived at Emily's room. Ms. Mead was already there and she was holding two dead black snakes.

"This is good eating" she comments.

Emily looks at her repulsed by the idea of eating snakes. Ms. Mead turned around and walked out of the room, not saying anything to the twins. Piper slipped into the room to check on Emily.

"Are you alright?" She asks.

"Yes, they just startled me" Emily answered.

"How'd they even get in here? I thought everything outside died due to the radiation because of the missiles" Jack said.

"I thought so too, until you two showed up. And then those snakes" Emily said.

"Jack, we should probably go. Remember, it's our duty to serve while we're here and we don't want to get into trouble" Piper tells her brother.

"She's right. You guys can go now. I'm alright, I promise" Emily said.

Jack looked her over before following his sister out of the room. The twins headed down to the living area where they stood beside Mallory, conversing with her when they weren't called on.

That afternoon when the survivors in Outpost 3 relaxed while the grays did chores, an alarm went off. The twins looked at each other before rushing over to Mallory.

"What's going on?" Jack asked.

"I think that's the proximity alarm. We've had a breach" Mallory tells him.

The twins looked at each other in concern. Ms. Mead and Ms. Venable looked at each other before leaving to see what got into Outpost 3. The purples began to whisper amongst themselves, wondering what breached the underground bunker.

When dinner came around, the nutritional cubes were not served this time. This time, it was snake soup. Ms. Mead poured the soup in to bowls and it was up to the greys to serve them to the purples. Once all the purples had been given bowls of soup, the greys got their own bowls of soup. However, no one got the chance to eat because black snakes slithered out of the bowls and the pot. The purples jumped back in fear and the greys dropped their bowls. Ms. Mead lead everyone to the sitting room.

"Who's in your office Ms. Venable?" Emily asked.

Ms. Venable didn't get a chance to answer because there were footsteps coming towards the sitting room. The twins looked up from where they stood against the wall to see a man dressed in black and had long dirty blonde hair. He moved to stand by Ms. Venable only to tilt his head at her, making her move out of his way then stood in her place.

"Jack, I don't like him. I can feel some kind of evil vibe coming off of him" Piper whispered to her twin quietly so no one else could hear.

"I can feel it too Pipes, just stay calm" Jack told his sister.

"My name is Langdon and I represent the Cooperative. I won't sugarcoat the situation, humanity is on the brink of failure. My arrival here was crucial to the survival of civilized life on Earth. The three other compounds in Syracuse, New York, Beckley, West Virginia, and San Angelo, Texas have been overrun and destroyed. We've had no contact from the six international outposts, but we are assuming that they, too, have been eliminated." the man spoke.

"What happened to the people inside?" Andre asked.

"Massacred. The same fate that will befall almost all of you" Langdon answered.

"Almost all?" Evie asked.

"In the knowledge that this very moment might occur, we built a failsafe The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is unique. It has certain security measures that will prevent overrun." Langdon stated.

"Excuse me sir, what measures? And why weren't we given them?" Ms. Mead asked him.

"That's classified" Langdon answered her.

"All that matters is that The Sanctuary will survive, so the people populating it will survive, so humanity will survive." he continued.

"Who are the people populating it?" Mr. Gallant asked.

"That's also classified" Langdon told him.

"However, I have been sent to determine if any of you are worthy and fit to join us." he said.

The survivors whispered and murmured amongst themselves at the new information of a possible chance of surviving the radiation outside.

"The Cooperative has developed a particular and rigorous questioning technique we like to call "Cooperating." I will then use the information gained to determine if you belong." Langdon continued, interrupting everyone's discussions.

"What is this, the Hunger Games? This is bullshit" Coco commented. "I paid my way in here, and that is the only cooperating I plan on doing" she continued.

"You don't have to sit for questioning" Langdon said.

"What happens if we choose not to?" Timothy asked.

"Then you stay here and die" Langdon tells him.

"I volunteer to go first" Mr. Gallant said, raising his hand.

"And so you shall. For those of you who don't make the cut, all is not lost. If the worst should happen and feral cannibals come knocking, down one of these. One minute later, you fall asleep and never wake up. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you." Langdon said as he held up a small vile of pills.

"Well smooth move, asking to go first" Coco tells her friend Mr. Gallant.

Langdon and Mr. Gallant walked out of the sitting area. Everyone else talked amongst themselves, Evie and Coco began to argue.

"There's an old actor's adage. Either go first or go last" Evie said.

"You're not going anywhere" Coco told her.

"Are you suggesting that he is going to pass me up?" Evie asked her.

"You're ancient. He's looking for people to repopulate the Earth, not fill a bingo hall." Coco tells her.

"You know, for someone with the mental capacity of a three-year-old, I suppose 52 might seem ancient." Evie replied to Coco.

The twins watched the two women fight, before following Mallory's lead to returning to the kitchen and cleaning up the spilled soup. Mr. Gallant's interview lasted all day and everyone returned to their rooms come lights out. 

[Next]

[cottoncandydreamsxoxo]

A shoulder to cry on.

This is my first fanfic so be gentle, I tried to do a fluffy one so sorry if it’s not that wholesome. :( this is based on the best au ever! by @shinyzango ‘s 2d bendy au. I got inspired to make a fanfic ever since reading the 2d au fanfics of the name @pooka-dragon and the art of @squigglydigg , made me love how creative 2d bendy can be!

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Henry breathed in the ink incarnated air of the studio, his clothes covered with black and soulless ink after all the encounters with there foes, a calm look on his face, which was a first, waiting for the next thing to set them off there course. He looked somewhat in war with his emotions. He dint know what to feel, he dint have the time to figure out what was truly going down, the searchers, sammy...he despised His own worry the most, making him do stupid things for the cute little demon bendy. Stuck in a page with no known ways of getting out, a cartoon with pointy horns and his body bold black.

Henry would lay bendy on one of the studios inky shelves upright so he can talk with him if he needed to. Henry would not ask the demon any more questions and would look around for anything useful. “Today seems diffrent dosent it?” Bendy would reply, “change is bad..” as bendy thought of what worse could be coming, Henry would look at him and sigh. “I know you’re sick of the fighting, don’t make it give you the blues. It will end one day i promise you.” Henry was a kind man, ashamed of the bad times but looked upon them as a somewhat chance for change. He looked at bendy, who looked overly sad. Henry would stop and go over “what’s with the long face bud?” Bendy would try and calm down slightly before awnsering, his voice matching his lead face “difference in this place is NEVER okay! I’m scared if you getting hurt, what will I do if you die.” Henry looked at him with a sad yet but understanding expression “live on for me.” Bendy was suprised and spechless at this reply and looked at henry, Henry would sadly smile back.

All his mind was filled about cheering his little freind up. Not noticing anything behind him. suddenly Henry noticed bendys mortified expression. “What’s up bud?” Henry would point behind Henry for when Henry would notice it was too late anway. It was a searcher, not just one but the biggest numbers you’ve ever seen. heard a “HENRY!” And was knocked unconscious, the last sounds he heard was someone tearing up. That’s what they were doing they were repopulating, Henry was on the floor, some searchers looming over him. “HENRY! Please wake up, WAKE UP!” The searchers looked violent and were probably about to hurt Henry. Bendy was crying at this point, sick of seeing his freind get hurt. Bendy could do barley nothing, though there was hope. “”We need you Henry...I need you Henry.” There was no chance he was waking up from his voice any day.

The searchers looked ready with there outright hideous and evil extior Accidentally a searcher had knocked bendy off the shelf and made the page float down to an ink puddle, bendy immediately shapeshifted into his monster form. Out of his page and somewhat In reality. He grabbed Henry, his large, beast like, cold and inky hands were not enough to wake henry. He was out cold. Bendy risked his life by quickly getting off the page, luckily there was a side room he could protect Henry in until he woke up, he saw it on his right. He immediately dashed inside and held Henry gently so he dint hurt him, meanwhile... Henry was stuck in a dream with no known way to get Out. The lovely demon would comfort him.

Henry was dreaming about the studio, the place of nightmares. The place he so foolishly decided to get a job at. he would be in a world of his own. black, dark and hell-like place. He would be strapped into a chair, tight rope concealed him from getting a anywhere. There stand joey, in his view range standing up and looking at him with that sick twisted grin of his that always sended shivers down Henry’s spine even in the old days. “What do you want!” Henry asked him intimidatingly. Joey would just laugh as a reply which made Henry confused as he began to go closer to Henry, his voice had a devious tone. “Why you know what I want old freind! Don’t be blind! I want my company to overthrow and rule this earth. I want this plain ol’ studio to eco me the place of big sales and success, so big you won’t be able to hold it in youre pockets!” Henry would look at him angerily as he approached even further “YOU SICK PHY-“ Henry got stopped as jeoy forcefully banged henrys head against the wall behind him. “Let’s act like civil men, shall we?” Henry looked at joey even more angrily than ever as he stared the man down.

“What do you want from me?” Henry asked with a growl. Joey would just look him with his lying eyes, “I want you.” “IM NOT FOR YOURE PL-“ Henry got slapped by joey quickly and strongly. “You dint remember what I said, do you?” Henry looked at him with searing rage. “Me, you, join together and work for the master plan, what I’ve created. You will never think the same way about this studio again...” he got a little freaked out but kept his cool, “mad-man.” Henry muttered under his breath. “What do you think makes it the so bold and brave you’re Caling it?” Henry asked with a little bit of a growl. “I’m planning to make this the most empowering, popular, skyrocketing and superior animation studios in all of earth’s entirety. I want to force them to praise our little demon darling and watch other false creators crumble under our feet!” Henry got startled by this, “I know you like amazing for perfection but don’t you think we’re going to far?” His eyes and voice shaked. “Oh no my old freind, I think we’re going for achieving to little. By the time this is done I want the, to worship him and would even give there life and soul for him!” He watched as joeys laugh was the only sound I’m the room, he was to spechless and shaky to say anything. “I want them to empower the name Joey Dre-“ Henry broke. “YOU SICK PERSON. I WILL NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN! NEVER! IF I WAS UNTIED I WOULD PUNCH YOU!” Joey just laughed it off. “We both don’t want that, do we?”

He was suspicious about looking more into his plans, he would try and get it out of Joey so he could immediately stopped it. He would stop trying to get that out and stares at the anonymous inky blob that looked unnaturally familiar behind 1 foot behind Joey, black and ominous. Henry eyes locked scared. “W-w-who is that?” He was scared it was his little bud. “Just a freind who was...misled..” the inky blob turned around and it was the dereded truth. “B-b-bud...” “LET HIM GO! WHAT HAS HE DONE TO YOU!” He would try and become untied so bad struggling and shaking. Bendy looked traumatised and petrifired. “Please...please...let him go...poor bud.” He was now tearing up and shaking trying to escape, “please...I’ll do anything just please let him go...safe...in one peice, okay?” “I don’t think that can happen.”

Joey would hurt bendy, which made her cry and shiver in reality silently reapeating no with a scared looking face. Expericing trsumstic Images infornt of his eyes, he was shaking imcerdiblg fast. He cried silently but a lot, his face was slightly scared but mostly emotionless,men dy knew something was wrong...Which made bendy worried, worried for his little freind and what was making him so startled. He would be confused of the silent mutterignncomign from Henry, the muttering made him even more worried. bendy would gently try and wake Henry up from this scarring nightmare. Hoping he would be okay after it, wanting his freind to be happy. The searchers were close but weklojgs since of there ink insides so they couldn’t hurt bendy but they could hurt Henry and possibly do worse. bendy gently would put him in a cradle position as he wanted to comfort his freind until he woke up, he would be very gentle as he knew Henry was fragile and easy to hurt.

He cares for his pal ever since he first met him and dint want anything to helped to the poor guy. He nuzzled him, tirelessly with no hesitation hoping it would save him from his nightmare, Bendy prayed with all his heart that it would be able to free the poor fella. Henry tiredly woke up as it was to cold to be asleep at this time, his eye lids gently opened to see bendy I’m his monster form, not on his page nuzzling him vigorously. He whimpered as well at Henry, hoping he wasn’t stressed out of negative feeling. After that experience. Henry noticed this and would gently pet his head which made him extraordinarily happy, he had ended up making to sho away the searchers while Henry was passed out. “I’m okay bud, I’m alright. Please don’t worry. I must’ve passed out or something.” said Henry as he would sit up. They would be happy and postitive I’ve there were both safe unhurt, henry sighed with relief as he looked at his bud with that smile of his bendy always used to do.

Henry would look up at bendy. With a faint smile and a slight snigger he said “It’s getting late bud, you better go to sleep.” Bendy looked at him sternly as he used to stay up all the time, 24/7, doing something else beside sleeping. Exposing the slight bags under his eyes that never went away. He always would always overwork himself and never sleep, bendy knew how important is was for humans like Henry to sleep. He wanted him to take a breather from all his heavy all nighters and stop punching himself to the limit. He would do make sure Henry slept today, no matter what. “Fine, I’ll got to sleep with you bud, but all you had to do is ask.” He would watch Henry, making sure he did what he said. He went to sleep within five minutes, with that bendy wa happy. His old man was finally sleeping again. Bendy would shut his inky eyes and sleep with the Henry, ending there adventures for that day...

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Yes! It’s finally done!

Sorry, it took me several days to compelte but it was worth it! My first fanfic ever! Hope you like it.

[wutheringheightstillpendalhill]

Curious thoughts//  Chapter two

American Horror Story: Apocalypse

Micheal Langdon x (Cordelia’s daughter) Reader

Rating: small amount of fluff

I sat in front of my mirror, yet the reflection shown wasn’t of my own but of Michael Langdon as we spoke to one another in the safety of our privates rooms at the two schools.

“Why do you think we’re connected?” I asked after a while, he seemed stumped at my question. “I’m not sure which makes me feel uneasy about all of this” he answered truthfully as I thought over it all, “so you don’t want to talk to me then?” I quizzed him in a serious tone. It wasn’t that I disliked being able to see and talk to him on the contrary it made the time that I was on my own more enjoyable.

“I never said that, in fact your one of the most interesting people I’ve met so far in my life” he answered with a smirk as I scoffed rolling my eyes playfully at him, “sweet talking ain’t gonna get you anywhere Langdon” I grinned he chuckled in response to my words. “Should have thought of doing this ages ago, so much easier than appearing where ever you are” I commented remembering all the times I’d randomly appear in his grandmothers house just as I had fallen asleep in my own bed. “Do you remember anything from then?” He asked me his eyes held a look of concern, I paused for a moment allowing my mind to flick back to when I would appear wherever he was, I could only ever remember an elderly woman or being scared of him at times before begging him to send me home.

“I remember your grandmother, I remember you being sad because something happened and then as time went on when we would play, I would get scared of something and then beg for you to send me home” I recited to him as a distant look passed over his face, “what? What is it?” I asked worry dripping from my words. “Nothing... nothing promise me you’ll forget about it, you have to promise me Elisha”he demanded with a stern look which startled me, nodding furiously I swore to forget all about it.

“Tell me about your father?” He asked seemingly calm after his blowout on me, shaking my head slightly I shakily answered “who? Hank?”, he rolled his eyes at me, “no silly, your real father what was he like?” He told me. Smiling sadly I looked away over at the picture of my mother and I together on fourteenth birthday. “My mama called him an angel, said he was the kindest man she had ever met, he had this aura around him that was pure and clean she told me that every time she wa switch him it felt like a breath of fresh air..” I told him my eyes became blurry as I rubbed at them to get rid of any tears there, “he had to leave her just before she found out about me, said his father was calling for him to return home, he wanted to stay with her but it just wasn’t possible so he left leaving only a locket and me for my mama to remember him by” I finished looking back at Michael as he seemed saddened by the story, yet I could tell that the cogs in his brain where turning thinking over what I had just said.

“Their looking for me, they want for me to practise more” he suddenly said standing up quickly I followed swiftly after him, “just be careful please I know about the seven wonders, I’ve lost friends to them, I don’t want to lose you too” I admitted placing my hand on the glass that separated us. “I will besides I’ve still got a few days, will you be there?” He asked placing his hand against my own, “I will, your my friend Michael if you want me there then I will be” I told him smiling as he copied me.

I suddenly felt this weird sensation in my hand that I had against the glass as I saw it disappearing through the glass, I could feel Michael holding onto it as he lifted it up before placing a light kiss to my knuckles. “I’ll see you tonight” he smirked slyly at my shocked expression before letting go of my hand as he faded swiftly being replaced by my own reflection.

I sat there in silence listening to the crackling of the fire as we sat in the library. Everyone was on edge after this mornings incident with the snakes, my mind was racing trying to rationalise everything. I sat on the arm rest beside Emily, I had a hold on her hand she was still uneasy after finding the snakes in her room this morning when she woke up.

We then heard the sounds of footsteps approaching where we were. The sound echoing with each step closer, in my head I was trembling but my body seemed relieved by the arrival of the mysterious visitor.

I turned my head ever so slightly to see the man walk into the room with us, long blonde hair lay elegantly on top of a smart black evening outfit. He seemed to be studying us as he walked round the room to were Venable was standing in front of the fire, immediately I could tell he intended to ensure that he held the highest rank amongst us all just by how the split second interaction between both him and Venable went.

“My name is Langdon, and I represent The Cooperative...I won't sugarcoat the situation, Humanity is on the brink of failure, my arrival here was crucial to the survival of civilized life on Earth. The three other compounds In Syracuse, New York, Beckley, West Virginia, and San Angelo, Texas have been overrun and destroyed, we've had no contact from the six international outposts, but we are assuming that they, too, have been eliminated.” Langdon began to explain to us, I felt guilty for all those who were dead outside of these walls, I felt guilty for the fact I didn’t deserve a place here in the outpost that in fact there were so many brilliantly minded people who had deserved to live more than I did.

“What happened to the people inside?”

“Massacred....The same fate that will befall almost all of you.” Langdon answered bluntly before being cut off by Mallory’s bravery to speak up, “Almost all?”.

“In the knowledge that this very moment might occur, we built a failsafe The Sanctuary.” He went to to explain before also being cut off by Coco,

“The Sanctuary?”

“The Sanctuary is unique.It has certain security measures that will prevent overrun.” He explained his eyes scanning the room, I tried to keep an open mind, since everything about him either scared me or made me want to run to his side and never leave it.

“Excuse me, sir. What measures? Why weren't we given them?” Ms Mead injected into the lecture that we were being given.

“That's classified.All that matters is that The Sanctuary will survive, so the people populating it will survive, so humanity will survive.”

“Who are the people who are populating it? “Also classified. However, I have been sent to determine if any of you are worthy and fit to join us.” He stated as the whole room came to life as we all began mumbling to one another. “The Cooperative has developed a particular and rigorous questioning technique we like to call "Cooperating.I will then use the information gained to determine if you belong.” He added to his dictations.

“What is this, The Hunger Games? This is bullshit.I paid my way in here, and that is the only cooperating I plan on doing.” Coco scoffed at the news of having to earn a place to safety.

“You don't have to sit for questioning.” Langdon replies to Coco’s remarks. “What happens if we choose not to?” Andre inquired curiously.

“Then you stay here and die.” Was the answer.

“I volunteer to go first.” Gallant finally spoke aloud, I glanced at him worriedly. “And so you shall.” Langdon patronised him before looking round at everyone. “The process should only take me a couple of days, so you won't be kept in suspense forever.For those of you who don't make the cut, all is not lost.If the worst should happen and feral cannibals come knocking, down one of these.One minute later, you fall asleep and never wake up.” He then went on filling everyone with dread and fear before taking his leave but not without saying, “I look forward to meeting each and every one of you.” As he disappeared into the shadows of outpost three.

“Well, smooth move, asking to go first.” Coco retorted sarcastically, “There's an old actor's adage.Either go first or go last.” Evie remarked taking a sip of her drink.

“You're not going anywhere.” Coco fires back at the older woman. “Are you suggesting that he is going to pass me up?” Evie demanded, “You're ancient.” Was the argument.

“He's looking for people to repopulate the Earth, - not fill a bingo hall.” Coco backed up her previous statement.

“You know, for someone with the mental capacity of a three-year-old, I suppose 52 might seem ancient.” Evie snarkily commented waiting for Coco to fire back at her, “You were 52 when Elvis took his last shit.” I sighed shaking my head at their childish act, “That's enough!” Gallant demanded voicing a similar opinion to my own. EVIE: Oh, no.Let her spout.I remember a wonderful lunch that I had at Dan Tana's with Natalie Wood.Natalie turned to me and she said, "Evie, you are a survivor.You're gonna outlive us all” And dear Natalie She turned out to be right.Hmm.” Evie sighed dramatically, I quickly get up tired of their bickering and boring stories I swiftly left them room in search of something to do.

I allowed for my feet to carry me where ever they wanted, the idea being perhaps they may know somewhere better in this place than I already did, however I only ever found myself returning to the kitchens were I found Mallory giving me a questioning look as to why I was there.

“I’m bored”

[thechillingadventuresoflili-blog]

Last chapter of the day, guys. Much love to you all. I’m going to bed, lovelies. As usual this is dedicated to @zeciex, @lovelykhaleesiii, and @frucienlover. Leave some love. 

Chapter Eighteen Seeing Her Again (Michael)

Waiting two years was long enough. The year was 2020 and Michael was tired of everyone already. Jeff and Mutt were unbearable during the construction of their suites in Outpost Two and Venable complained about the technology in Outpost Three. He had donated the Hawthorne School to The Cooperative to retrofit to Venable’s specific specifications, except the plumbing. That was the only modern thing she wanted in the whole place. And he had to oblige her every whim so she would feel important enough to still work for them.

Michael had had enough after the first six months without Lilia but he knew that he just had to be patient. Even without Mead, he was ready to just wipe out the world.

Finally when the time came for the bombs to be dropped, he was in Outpost Ten underneath the south island of New Zealand. He had called the appropriate people in each country that would eliminate the world and he waited. Just under an hour and everyone who had bought a ticket was there and safe.

When their bomb dropped, the whole outpost shook and everyone screamed. Michael just hoped that Lilia had made it to the safest place for her.

While in the Outpost, Michael made everyone believe that there was a Sanctuary built in case the Outposts were overrun by the people contaminated by the blast outside. When in fact, there wasn’t such a place. It was just a ruse to get everyone to go crazy before he massacred everyone. All to make way for the new world him and his queen would create.

Working through each Outpost was easier than he had thought. Everyone in them were some of the most dumbest creatures he had ever imagined. Throw in some made up place of salvation to outlast the nuclear winter that the bombs had brought.

Moving from one to the next one on his list, Michael was saving the third Outpost for last. As he rode to the Outpost in full protective gear eighteen months after the bombs dropped, he felt the pain in his chest lessen as he got closer to his Lilia. He knew that she could feel it, too. But, he knew that she would be so very confused as to why she was so attracted to him.

Approaching the gates to the Outpost, he waved them open and raced the horses in. Waiting for him were three of the guards.

He got off his perch on the carriage and showed his ID, which had his thumbprint and blood type. “I’m here to see Ms. Venable.”

“Yes, Mr. Langdon.” That was Mead.

He smiled beneath his mask and walked toward the elevator down to the Outpost. “Tend to the horses.”

Waiting before the sitting room in front of the big fireplace, he heard the telltale sign of Ms. Venable’s cane against the floor. “I’m Wilhelmina Venable. I run this institution.”

He wanted to roll his eyes at her stupidity. He knew exactly what she was doing here. “Of course you are.”

“You don’t believe me?” He wanted to kill her.

“I do. I’m just surprised you managed to keep the chaos at bay. I’m sure you know that the other Outposts have been overrun. This one is sure to follow.” He explained. “I’ve been sent here to see if any of the occupants qualify for the Sanctuary. Those who don’t make it end up like my horses.”

With that, he walked away, Mead following behind him with his things from the carriage. He lead her to his old room and opened the door to let her place the bags just inside. He bowed his head to her and went inside, his heart pounding.

Michael could feel her, just down the hall from him. But he had to wait for the morning to see her again. He knew that the others would try their hardest to pass the Cooperating, but he wouldn’t really be listening. He just wanted to see her. He could feel her heartbreak over her friend and he wanted to soothe her heart by letting her know who he really was to her, but he had to wait.

Michael hoped that she would like his appearance than what he looked like when he wiped her memory. His hair was longer and a little straighter. He had finally learned how to apply the correct makeup for his complexion while she was away. His face was decorated in just a little red eyeshadow in the corner of his eyes, making his baby blue eyes pop.

He went over to his mirror and whispered the scrying spell to see what she was doing. It turns out that she had picked out her old room from when she taught her. That made him smile. She was sitting in just a slip and was reading a book about magic, whispering some spell that made the candles around her levitate. His smile grew as she was realizing her powers by herself.

“My love, you are overcoming the identity spell all on your own.” He whispered to himself as he made the image of his love disappear, getting ready for another sleepless night with her.

The next morning, Michael found himself walking in to the parlor where the survivors were waiting to see who had arrived and there she was. Lilia Snow, looking beautiful in the purple that she was deemed worthy to wear. She had another man’s arm around her shoulders and was looking at Michael with such lust in her eyes that he couldn’t move his own from hers.

He finally ripped his eyes from her when he made it to the front so he could see all of them. He got up in Venable’s space so she would move. And then he opened his mouth to explain the situation to the people before him.

“My name is Langdon and I represent The Cooperative.” He told them all. “I am sorry to inform you that all the other Outposts have been overrun and destroyed. Picked clean by the diseased.”

“What happened to the people that was inside them?” Asked the wretched man who had dared to touch the woman he loved.

“Massacred.” Michael breathed, trying to not rip the guy’s head off. “But, have no fear. There is another facility. The Sanctuary.”

One of the women scoffed at him and he glared at her, daring her to say something stupid. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lilia bite her and his eyes went to her face. “The Sanctuary is a fail-safe, just on case all the other Outposts failed. I have come here to determine which of you are fit to join us. The facility is impregnable with safety protocols.”

“Excuse me, sir, but why weren’t we given them?” Mead smartly asked him.

“That’s classified. There are others to help repopulate the Earth.” Langdon said before he was interrupted again by the same idiot who still hadn’t removed his body from next to Lilia’s.

“Who are the others?” He asked.

“Also classified. The Cooperative has come up with a questioning method we like to call ‘Cooperating’” He smiled as the blonde spoke up.

“What is this, The Hunger Games? I paid my way here and that is all the cooperating I plan on doing.” She said so confidently that Michael felt sad for her.

“Then, you can stay here and die.” He said with an air of confidence that he smiled when he saw Lilia shiver and move away from the man next to her. Her scent brushed past him that it made him close his eyes and breathe her in, making him wish to have her in his arms yet again.

Michael reached into his pocket and brought out a small bottle of cyanide pills, holding them up for all of them to see. “If you aren’t selected, just down one of these. In about a minute, you will drift off to peaceful sleep and your pain and suffering will end. The Cooperating process shouldn’t take more than a few days.”

One of the men raised his hand as Michael’s eyes found Lilia’s again. “I volunteer to go first.”

“And so you shall.” He smiled a smile that said he hated them all and walked away from the woman who had plagued his life without her.

He was waiting in the shadows, watching her walk out of the room after him. He smiled as she leaned against the railing as she did so many times at Hawthorne after dealing with detention with a student.

“I’m pretty sure dinner has just been called.” He stepped out of the shadows and scared her.

She turned to him, her green eyes meeting his. “Mr. Langdon.” So formal with him, he hated it. “I’m sorry. I’m not feeling all that well. I thought I would go lay down in my room.”

He watched her bite her lip again as he took a step towards her and breathed her in, loving the way she smelled. “It’s nice to see you again, Ms. Snow.” With that he walked from her yet again. This was killing him, but he knew it wasn’t time yet.

[considertheturtle]

The Handmaid’s Tale - Episode 1 “Offred”

“I don’t need oranges. I need to scream.”

After recently reading and watching “The Handmaid’s Tale”, I can honestly say I’ve never been so shook up by a story since Schindler’s List. I’m working on a post on lessons Christians can learn from THT, but before finishing it up, I wanted to do another re-read and re-watch.

Here are some of my moment by moment thoughts from Episode 1: Offred

The opening of this series caught me by surprise. In the book you are already immersed in the world of Gilead. The car chase scene grounds you in our own reality and makes this world extra scary because it reminds you it really could happen here. And it really could.

Watching them rip Hannah out of June’s arms and then beat her over the head when she tries to rescue her daughter is just a first glimpse into the cruelty of Gilead. This is supposed to be all about repopulating right? But what good is repopulation when you refuse to allow a mother to take care of her child. Beginning grumbling anger now.

Serena Joy: “Our last one (handmaid) was so new it was like training dog, only not a very smart one.” If only they could remember these women are humans, not animals of any kind. Though honestly, dogs are nicer than humans.

The commander seems gentle in the first introduction, making Serena Joy seem to be the greater villain. Which maybe she is, except, well, no. He’s the worst.

I truly wonder whether there are any wives who can take perspective and realize this is not a gift for these handmaids. That they would much rather YOU were sleeping with your own husband, rather than them. Especially since many of their own own husbands/partners were likely killed so you could rip them away to make babies for you.

Immediately Elizabeth Moss is playing a more sassy and daring Offred than book Offred, who was towing the party line at the beginning, too afraid to speak out.

Ahh, introduction to Nick. I’m pretty obsessed with Nick and glad we get to see more of him in the show. Not that he says much more, but man is he skilled at flirting. I was surprised to see she was flirting back on her first day, but he’s pretty hot so I can’t blame her. Plus any opportunity to deviate from their terrible life is one more opportunity for a mini rebellion. And he’s hot. 

Ofglen/Emily. Amazing from the beginning and far from being the “pious little shit” Offred considers her. This scene reminded me of one of Gilead’s psychological manipulations. Put handmaid against handmaid. Make them all fearful of each other to prevent them joining together. What a horrible place.

“I don’t need oranges. I need to scream.”

The idea that they invented birth control so they could have their “orgies and Tinder.” I can’t even. 

Oh Aunt Lydia – Drinking so much of the Kool-Aid.

“Blessed are the meek. They always left out the part about inheriting the earth.” First person to call BS on Gilead’s misuse of scripture. I’m pretty sure Nick is the next.

“Girls (spoken in a soft voice) I know this must seem very strange. This may not seem ordinary to you now. But in time this will become ordinary.” Manipulation, manipulation, but sadly it became true for some. Such a reminder about the importance of staying alert and not getting lulled by people’s words.

Janine is one of the most compelling characters in this series.

June’s love and longing for Hannah is the most heartbreaking element of the book. It’s what keepings her going and it is the cause of her deepest sadness. Getting flashbacks to scenes with Hannah, their normal innocent life, is gut wrenching. And when she prays, “Please God, let her remember me.” I’m done.

The slutshaming scene is beyond cruel. And crueler still, that there are truly people who think it was “her fault” for “leading them on.” How anyone can think that a gang rape is a woman’s fault,? This forced group shaming is another example of the utilization of groupthink in Gilead.

Ceremony night: • Why do Nick and Rita have to be there? To add to her shame? Oh yes, this is supposed to be an honor isn’t it. • Locking up the Bible so that only the Commander can read it. Is that their idea of the “good ole days?” • As a Christian, the use of scripture to abuse others just makes me want to throw things. This show makes me want to throw lots of things. • Second time around, I’m wondering if the reason Serena sends her away when Offred is supposed to lay there for ten minutes is because she knows it’s pointless. That it is her husband who is sterile, not her.

Offred was always the one to comfort other people and she so badly needs comfort now. What a lonely, cruel place. Subjected to rape and then left alone.

Janine saying “I want my mom.”

“Keep your F’ing shit together.” The phrase she held on to all this time. So much of Offred’s life is about keeping it together in a place where no one could (or should) blame you for completely losing it.

You can see she takes comfort (or at least enjoyment) in Nick’s presence early on. He makes her smile. She should fear him, all things considered, but he finds ways of letter her know she doesn’t need to. I can’t remember if the book is the same or not. Max Minghella does a lot of nonverbal acting since he rarely gets to speak much useful content. But if you pay attention to what his body is saying, he actually says a lot.

Brings back thoughts of all the other public executions from back in the day and how they were forms of entertainment and outlets for people’s anger. I hate it, I hate it all. Seriously, dogs > humans.

The “loss of Moira” is so evident here. The thought of seeing her again was one of threads she was clinging to for survival. 

I love the way Offred repeats Ofglen’s son’s name “Oliver.” As though she is trying to ingrain it into her memory.

Overall, an amazing first episode that gives us a glimpse into this awful world. I love this show’s rich character development, as that’s the most important part of any story to me. Well done Margaret Atwood and well done showrunners for staying faithful to the source material.

Until next time.

[foxcantswim]

Twelve x Clara Whouffaldi - Two Worlds Apart Chapter 1

AU - TIME LORDS VS HUMANS

A New War Has Arrived. The Time Lords Vs The Humans. One rebel Time Lord, known as the Doctor, is the only one who doesn't want the war. He meets a group of humans who also don't agree with the war... but the Doctor doesn't know that. He fears that if he tells the humans that he is a Time Lord they will kick him out. He ends up meeting a human, but she looks oddly familiar. Who is she? 

“HUMANS AND TIME-LORDS ARE FORBIDDEN FROM CO-OPERATING WITH ONE ANOTHER. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT THERE MAY BE ANY FORBIDDEN ACTIVITY - PLEASE CALL THE NUMBER BELOW. YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED AN ASSOCIATE IF YOU DO NOT ALERT THE NEAREST STATION. TIME LORDS ALERT OTHER TIME LORDS. HUMANS ALERT OTHER HUMANS. THIS IS WAR. NO PEACE WILL COME FROM IT.” - (These signs were everywhere... Clara had noticed that the number of them grew larger by the day. The Doctor had noticed that the number of them grew larger by the day.)

A War. A War that could be considered the same level of devastation as the Time War. Except the only species that are in this war... Are the Humans and the Time Lords. The two factions have never agreed with one another- the General of Gallifrey had declared war upon Earth and it has been going on for almost two hundred years. Yes, the Time Lords were indeed a lot more powerful than the Humans... But a resource was spreading across the Earth... A resource that can end a Time Lord's life within seconds. No more regenerations. And that resource is: Azbantium. It's used to keep Time Lords locked away in a prison as he takes billions of years to destroy.

A traitorous Time Lord had 'accidentally' left a small piece of Azbantium in a UNIT base. This Azbantium was found by a woman called Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. UNIT managed to duplicate the Azbantium and ship it off to all the other countries. The traitorous Time Lord was known as the mad man with a box- the Doctor, his true name forgotten along with his past. The Doctor refused to fight against the Humans considering the amount of time he spent on Earth- he had walked among them and even though he thought that he was bigger than them... he never wanted to rid them from the universe.

Despite the war, Humans continued to repopulate the Earth to try and fight back against the Time Lords. And one day... a Human was born. One of the only Humans who didn't want to fight. She saw the Time Lords as equals and all she wanted was peace. Her parents- Ellie and Dave. They go by the last name Oswald. Their daughter, Clara, would peer out the window and look at the constant explosions... she wished that it would be different.

For the first 15 years of her life she remained in the house and only got to go outside for one hour per day. Once she hit 16... a well-known Time Lady had made a hole in Clara's life. The Time Lady was known as Missy... had put an end to Ellie Oswald's life. She was about to end Dave's and Clara's too but... she vanished without a trace.

Clara ended up leaving home. Always on the run. Never staying in the same place for more than 6 hours. The only place that she could really stay in was the underground base- this base only allowed people in if they didn't want to fight the Time Lords... Which is not a lot of people. A few members of UNIT didn't believe in fighting with the Time Lords, but unfortunately it is their job to fight back. She had joined the 'underground base' at the age of 21- she was surprised when she reached her 27th birthday... She believed she would have died many years earlier.

Amy Pond and Rory Williams were the first two people Clara had met in the base. She was then introduced to Donna Noble, Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness- Who would not. Stop. Flirting. There was also another man called Mickey Smith who was currently in a relationship with Martha Jones. Sometimes Clara found it difficult to keep track of everyone's lives. Martha and Jack were the 'leaders' of this little group- they would tell everyone what to do and where to go. Supply runs etc.

"Clara!" Jack called as she entered the base, "You okay? No bruises or cuts?"

She shook her head as she dropped the bag of food onto a nearby table, "No no, I'm fine. The Time Lords sent down a modified Dalek though and it's causing havoc on the streets above. It almost killed me." she was breathing heavily. The Time Lords had managed to engineer themselves an army of Daleks.

"Perhaps you should sit down." Martha suggested. Clara nodded before sat back on the rusty old sofa.

Clara then asked, "Where's everyone else?"

"Amy, Mickey and Rose went out on a supply run. Everybody else is asleep." Jack replied. He then when into another part of the base and seconds later he returned to Clara's side with a small glass of water.

She shook her and yawned, "No no no... We need to preserve water."

"You've been saying that for three days, Clara." Martha spoke, "Drink." Clara took the small glass out of Jack's hand before taking a sip.

"Thanks, Jack."

"We gotta move!" Mickey exclaimed as he entered the base.

"Wh-What?" Jack questioned, "What's going on?"

Rose then added, "The Time Lords. They believe that we are a group set out to destroy the them."

"We tried to communicate-" Amy began.

"You tried to communicate?!" Clara questioned as she stood up.

Mickey nodded, "Yeah. They held us at gun point and we tried to explain that we wanted to be equals with them but... they didn't listen.""

"We met someone along the way. He had brown floppy hair and the most atrocious chin I have ever seen." Amy stated.

Martha then asked, "Did you bring him with you? Is he like us?"

Rose let out a sigh, "We saw him get shot by the Time Lords. We ran away. For all we know his body could still be lying there!"

"I think they're tracking us so we gotta go!" Mickey reminded.

"Okay okay." Jack said, "I'll wake the others up then we'll get going. Just bring enough food for the walk to the other base." Jack disappeared into the sleeping quarters whilst Mickey and Rose went into the kitchen to grab some of the food- Just enough to make it through the two day walk.

A few minutes later Jack emerged with everybody else, "Ready?" Martha asked. They nodded in response. We all quickly made our way up the stairs and opened the hatch to exit the base. Mickey always remained at the front of the group so it was his job to alert us if anybody or anything was coming our way. Everybody also had a weapon in hand just in case.

"Okay, we're good." Mickey assured as we all started to walk to dark streets. Pretty much all of the houses were destroyed, broken cars were scattered across the roads. The planet known as 'Gallifrey' was also visible in the sky, it was about as far away as the sun... So not too close. You could hear the occasional scream now and then- Probably due to yet another Time Lord attack.

As the group walked, they passed families who were either hiding in corners or hiding in alleyways. Clara wished that she could help them... But it was every man for themselves in this world. And hopefully one day, that would change. Clara and Rory were the ones in charge of keeping track of the food. Making sure that they had enough and making sure that everyone got their share.

"We have to split up if we want to make it out alive." Donna whispered. They were so close to the base now. About a thirty minute walk. But Daleks were patrolling the corn field for any sign of life and they couldn't exactly all go bombarding through them. Everybody nodded before going through the tall corn. They used to go in pairs but that proved to be difficult, now they go alone.

Clara hated doing this- Walking through a corn field filled with Daleks. Who knows when they would appear? "I detect life-forms!" a Dalek echoed.

"Find them! Exterminate them!" another Dalek ordered.

"AFFIRMATIVE!" Many Daleks spoke. There were definitely more than ten Daleks. Clara practically held her breath as she walked and she felt like her heart would escape her chest at any moment.

Surprisingly, she managed to get to the other side. Nobody else was there though... The rule was: if you got separated- you keep on going. You go to the base without them and you wait until they come back. If they aren't back within five hours- then they are presumed dead. Clara looked at her watch: 22:36. She started to run towards the city, once she arrived her running slowed down. It wouldn't be smart to alert the Daleks now.

In the distance, Clara could see two Daleks approaching. She quickly turned into an alleyway but she soon tripped on something causing her to fall to the ground. She groaned before looking to see what she had tripped on. Her eyes widened when she noticed that it was person... A man... Another human just like her.

The man let out a sigh of pain, "Ohh... Did you just kick me?"

"Shhh!" she shushed him, "Daleks are out there. And why are you lying on the floor?"

He managed to sit up and put his back up against the wall, "I erm- I think I passed out. I don't really know what happened." he ran a hand through his grey/silver hair.

She really wanted to help him. She had never helped anyone before. The groups rule kept running through her head: Every man for themselves. They only let people into the group if absolutely necessary. She didn't realise that she had been staring into his eyes so she awkwardly coughed, "Well erm- It was nice meeting you, sir. But I've gotta get going." she tried to stand.

"Wait wait." he said as he grabbed her arm, "You seem like you have a home. A place to live. Maybe I could stay with you until I find my Tar- I mean- home."

"I er-" she paused, biting her lip. What would the group even think? She started running through the pros and cons. Afterall it wasn't like he was going to stay with them permanently, "Okay. Yes. We have three homes technically. We travel between them whenever things get too hairy." The pair stood up, "Just follow me and stay hidden."

He rolled his eyes, "I'm not new to this thing. I don't think I want to encounter a Dalek." As they started to discreetly walk towards the base he asked, "I didn't catch your name."

"Clara. Clara Oswald." she told him, "And yours."

"Well, I'm the-" he paused, "J-John Smith." he really didn't want her to find out that he was a Time Lord. Who knows what would happen. All he wanted was peace between the Humans and Time Lords.

"Okay, John Smith. Get ready to meet the rest of my group, I guess." she gave him a small smile as they inched closer and closer towards the base.

Chapter 2

"And this is it." Clara announced as they made it to the hatch. She moved the leaves off of the top of it before unlocking it with a key. The two quickly entered and 'John' shut the door behind him, "Now we just have to wait for everyone else to get here. We were separated by some Daleks." she only just realised what John was actually wearing. A brown jacket and a bowtie... She raised her eyebrow at his attire, he soon understood.

"Right... do you have any new clothes?" he wondered.

She nodded, "Through there." she pointed towards a door, "Pick whatever you want." he nodded as he made his way into the room. A few moments later he emerged. His clothes were quite the opposite to his previous get up. He wore a hoodie and a coat over it... strange.

"It'll do." he stated, "And do me a favour. Next time when I'm lying down- don't kick me." he started to feel his personality kick in. He had only just recently regenerated afterall.

"It's not like I did it on purpose." she said as she started to sort the food out on the table.

I sat down on a tattered sofa, "Maybe you should look where you're going." Before she could answer, the base entrance opened.

Clara let out a sigh of relief, "Rory! Martha! Are you okay?"

Rory nodded, "Yeah. A few close calls but we're good." They both then eyed John.

"And who might this be?" Martha questioned.

"I'm John Smith. Also know as the man that Clara decided to kick." he then mumbled, "Useless pudding brain."

Clara groaned, "Like I said. It wasn't on purpose so stop being to grumpy about it." she looked at Martha, "He's staying here until he finds his home."

John tried to come up with a lie, "I er- I got separated from my friends and sister. I'm just trying to find them and then you will never see me again."

Everyone managed to make it back with some cuts and bruises. They all agreed that John could stay for a few days too. Clara felt glad that she had 'helped' somebody by taking them into the safety. Another part of her felt annoyed at John's sudden behaviour though.

"You need anything doing, Jack?" Clara asked.

He shook his head, "No. You've done plenty for this group, Clara. And besides... It's way too late for you to go outside."

She just groaned in annoyance, "I can go out at night, Jack! The Daleks and the Time Lords don't scare me."

"Sure they don't..." John mumbled to himself.

Clara and Jack looked over at him, Clara then questioned, "What was that?"

"Er-" John paused, "I said: she should go. The Daleks and Time Lords aren't too bad..." he stood up from his chair, "You can easily dodge the Daleks and all you have to do is stay out of the way of the Time Lords."

"I guess. You can go with her!" Jack suggested.

"Yeah. W-Wait, what?"

"Are you serious?" Clara questioned, "I can handle myself."

"Clara." Jack paused, "Take him with you. Get to know him a bit more."

She rolled her eyes, "If I'm not back in two hours- then John has probably killed me."

"I don't want to waste my strength on a useless pudding brain, Clara." he stated.

"Okay. If I'm back in an hour- I've killed John." she said before heading to the hatch, "We'll try to get some more food and water."

Jack nodded, "Be safe."

John followed Clara out of the base and she lead them to the nearby town.

Clara was getting rather angry by the fact that all the building doors were locked. She hadn't come into the part of the town before and she just assumed that everything would open- she wanted it to be an easy job to just walk in and take something and then walk straight back out.

'John'absolutely hated saying that his name was: John... But he had to hide is real identity away from these humans. He subtly took his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket whilst Clara was too busy with the door on the house across the street. He unlocked the door, "Clara!" he whisper-yelled so that he didn't alert anybody nearby. She quickly made her way over to him as he deposited the sonic back into his pocket, "The lock was faulty." he said. She smiled as she opened the door.

"Good. Maybe we'll find something useful in here." she said as the pair entered the dark house, "You want to take the upstairs or should I?"

"Wouldn't it be a lot safer if we stuck together?" the Doctor/John may have come across as an angry old man who despised the human race- but he still didn't want to see Clara perish so soon.

She shook her head, "I'd rather do things faster. So I guess I'll take the upstairs. Just go in the kitchen and look around for some canned food and bottled water. I'll go upstairs and see if there's anything interesting up there."

He muttered, "If you're sure." he made his way into the kitchen and Clara made her way up the stairs. She soon decided to take out a torch from her backpack. The floorboards creaked beneath her feet and the cold wind made her shiver. Clara couldn't hear anything. Pure silence. She couldn't remember the last time she had been isolated in such a quiet place. As she turned the corner into one of the bedrooms her eyes widened. She froze.

She didn't care if anything or anyone else heard her, "John?!" she called. A few seconds later, John appeared by her side.

"Clara." he whispered, "Don't blink."

"Wh-What is that?" she wondered. Her hand that was aiming the torch at the creature was shaking. The light then started to flicker.

"It's a Weeping Angel. If you blink it will move closer towards you and send you through time."

"And how do you know so much about them?!"

He paused, "I-I overheard the Time Lords talking about them a few days ago."

"Well..." she paused, "I don't really want to stay here much longer." she quickly grabbed John's hand and pulled him back towards the stairs.

"Stop holding my hand! People don't do that to me!"

She groaned, "Oh, shut up!" she pulled him down the stairs. Just as she was about to drag him out of the house, she noticed a bag next to the door, "What's that?"

"You said you wanted food and water. So I put them in that bag."

"You were fast!" she exclaimed before making him carry the bag.

He then mumbled, "Yeah, don't say that in bed." She gave him a disgusted look before he was the one who had to pull her out of the house.

Chapter 3

One Week Later

"He is so- He's just so- He's annoying!" Clara was pacing around the small room whilst listing the things that she hated about John.

Amy let out a sigh as she leaned back in her chair, "Clara, you need to calm down."

"Calm down?! He's driving me insane! I'm going to need medication if I ever want to calm down again!" John had gone out with Rose and Rory to on a supply run. Jack and Donna were in the planning room trying to find a new place to set up base. And Mickey and Martha were currently making food for when the rest of the group got back.

"You've been talking about John a lot lately." Amy smiled, "Why is that?"

"Why?!" Clara questioned, "He's infuriating!"

"Are you sure you don't like him." her friend said suggestively.

Clara just gave her a shocked look, "Are you being serious right now? Why on Earth would I like him with the stupid way he talks with that stupid mouth on that stupid face of his?!" Amy just folded her arms and gave her a questioning look whilst raising her eyebrow. She just looked at Clara... waiting.

"Tell the truth, Oswald. I won't judge."

"N-No! He-"

Amy cut her off, "Clara... Yes or no question: Do you find him attractive?" Clara opened her mouth to protest but it quickly slammed shut, "And that answers my question."

"Wh-What?! I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't have to." Amy smirked.

Clara then flopped onto her stomach on the sofa, "You're making me confused..." she mumbled as she dug her face into a pillow.

The Doctor had strayed away from Rose and Rory.

He rarely sleeps but he managed to get an hour or two of kip last night. He couldn't stop thinking about his dream. He's had this same dream for years now. About a woman, jumping into his time stream just to save him. He vaguely remembered travelling with this woman but he couldn't pinpoint her face. He remembered the name: Clara... The woman he met a few days ago was also called Clara... But that was just a coincidence. Right? She also reminded him of a certain woman he met in a diner many years ago... But it couldn't be the same exact person. He shook his head and rid any thought of this mysterious 'Clara'.

"It seems that Clara hates you." Rose stated as she slowed down to allow him to catch up. They stopped walking as Rory went into a house to look for supplies.

The Doctor shrugged, "Can't impress everyone." Clara... she seemed so different to everyone else. But he couldn't see why. He was the Doctor! He should know everything! He would catch himself many times each day just staring at her. He was interested in what she was doing and he had no idea why!

Rose then clicked her fingers in front of his face, "Earth to John."

"Wh-What?" he asked.

"When I say hate... It's more like denial."

He looked at her in confusion, "Denial?"

She nodded, "I can see it. Everyone in the group can see it. Except for you and Clara."

"See what exactly? Honestly, why doesn't anybody explain things properly these days?"

"That Clara likes you." she stated.

He raised his eyebrow, "You're giving me mixed messages here. Previously you said that she hated me"

Rose just sighed, "Put it like this. She hates the fact that she likes you."

"Erm... okay? So she likes me. That's good I guess. I... accept her presence." he 'accepted her presence' a lot more than Rose actually thought.

"You are so blind, John." Rose then added. No he wasn't. He understood completely. He's walked amongst Humans for years and he has grown accustomed to what the term 'likes' means... He wasn't a total idiot.

Once John, Rory and Rose came back- Everyone was ready to eat, "Run into any trouble?" Martha asked.

Rory shook his head as he started to eat the noodles, "Just one Dalek." Clara and John were picking at their food. Clara was too busy thinking about what she actually felt towards John: hate, like? What was it? John was too busy thinking about who the mysterious woman in his dreams was... it couldn't be the woman who was sitting opposite him. Right?

"You not hungry?" Amy asked Clara.

Clara quickly shut out her thoughts, "No. I just feel a bit sick." she lied.

Amy then whispered to her, "Lovesick?" Clara then groaned before standing up.

"I'm gonna go to bed. Hopefully, I'll feel better by morning." she said. Everyone nodded before she made her way to the spare room. This room was the only room that had one bed. The other room was huge and it had over ten beds. The 'spare room' was used for people if they wanted to be alone... and Clara wanted to be alone right now. Just so she could gather her thoughts. As she lay on the bed she looked up at the stone ceiling... and then at the stone walls... and then at the stone floor. This was no way to live. Underground with no sunlight. Candles were the only things that lit up the rooms in this 'home'.

There was then a knock at the door... God knows how Jack managed to install doors into this place, "Clara?" John walked in.

Clara then sat up, "Er- Y-Yeah?"

"I bought you some water if you want. It tends to help when you're feeling ill."

She gave him a smile, "Thanks." he handed her the bottle of water. To be honest... her stomach was feeling a bit off. She felt sick. It wasn't butterflies. She. Felt. Sick. She kept on telling herself that it was just an illness that would go away.

God knows how it happened, but John had been in the room with Clara for well over an hour now. They were just talking. An occasional story here and there. John didn't like sitting down and talking... He HAD to be doing something practical. Like fixing a machine or fighting a monster. Not listening to a Human. But Clara... he felt like he's heard her voice for years. Countless years. But why couldn't he remember her face?

John hadn't noticed the silence until now. They were currently sitting on the edge of the bed together. Why hadn't the sickness left Clara's stomach yet? She was starting to get concerned about it. What illness could she have been possessed with?! Having an illness in times like these was not a good situation.

She decided that she didn't care that she's only known John for a week. She wanted to try something. Just a test. She wanted to show that she didn't like John... She was going to kiss him and prove that she didn't need anything more. She leaned forward and surprisingly, he didn't move away... And that was when Amy decided to burst into the room. John then stuttered, "Er- N-Night, Clara." Once John left the room he shut the door behind him.

"No no no!" Amy exclaimed, "I didn't mean to burst in on such a moment! Get out there girl!" she pulled Clara up from the bed.

"Wh-What?!" Clara started, "What are you talking about?"

Amy rolled her eyes, "You really are hopeless sometimes."

To be continued...

[commedias]

'Torschlusspanik' for just Yanny (since I don't think we've rp'd before)

45 BEAUTIFUL UNTRANSLATABLE WORDS PROMPT LIST (currently accepting)(from yanling featuring a guest appearance from hyunwoo)

            five hundred. at that number of years, the immortal had lost track of her chronological age. physically, however, her body retained a fresh twenty-two. feminine features still radiated with youth, lips pulled into a pert pout. her skin remained luminous, its pale luster still intact even with exposure to the sun. her recent move to america had forced her to adjust to the rays, skin building a protective barrier to prevent any damage. hair had been cropped past shoulder length, dyed blonde on account of the american adage “blondes have more fun” — though it wasn’t meant to be taken so literally.

            despite the change in hair color, liu yanling could wholeheartedly confirm that in fact, she wasn’t having fun. over five hundred years of wandering the earth aimlessly and yet not a single day had been spent in LOVE. how could she ? vampires were a race mainly driven by their instincts, lust falling under that same category. falling in love did nothing to further their cause — though exactly what such a cause was remained a mystery to yanny. back in china where she was from, vampires were scattered across the country without any sense of unity. they operated only to better themselves, or in some cases, their clan. even then, clans weren’t as tightly knit as in other species, vampires mostly solitary creatures

            the only time they came together was to repopulate: a task easier said than done. many refused to mate with each other, not wanting to condemn any child to the same dreadful immortality they lived in. furthermore, a hierarchal system existed within their species that discouraged mating outside of their echelon. as indicated by the crescent-shaped birthmark on her hip, yanny belonged to the liu clan, the highest-ranking family within the upper echelon. her father’s life had been taken by a ferocious hunter before she was born, stake plunged into his heart. her mother ruled in his stead, nurturing her six children with a fierce maternal instinct. unlike other clans who betrayed one another, the liu’s fabric of loyalty was tightly wound.

            it was because of this tight family unit that she had been sent overseas to begin with. as the youngest daughter, many vampiric nobles cast their eye upon yanny to perpetuate the race with her genes. she was fresh, dewy-eyed, not nearly as jaded to the human world as most belonging to her kind. but in all truth, she was also INCOMPETENT, at times behaving arguably human more so than supernatural. other than mind control, she had hardly honed her skills — or even had much skill to begin with. were it not for the birthmark which distinguished her as ms. liu’s offspring, one might question whether she even came from the notorious clan. she had been sent to this foreign country to get stronger, feasting on the rich blood of corpulent americans until her frame became lean enough to withstand training from her fellow clan members.

            as of now she was too sickly to join their numbers, instead relegated to exile. the vampire should be concentrated on gaining more weight in order to bulk up her petite frame. but instead she was caught up in such trivial matters, the maudlin desires of the heart. she believed love was nothing more than a foolish construct humans invented to entertain themselves. then why did she feel such an ache as she watched couples idly pass by on the streets ? she’s perched at the window of a cafe, inconspicuously sipping on a cup of coffee. the beverage has no flavor to her, only there to depict the illusion that she was human. lovers linked arm in arm walk by, yanny observing them enviously from her seat.

           even though she had an immortal existence ahead of her (so long as a stake didn’t pierce her heart), yanny couldn’t help but think that the opportunities to find love were diminishing with each passing day. the older she became, the more isolated she would be from the rest of the masses. in comparison to other vampires, she was considerably younger — but to them, she was only a mating partner. it was settled that she would have to find a human to fulfill her desire. however, she despised most of them especially the ones residing in america. their foolish antics repulsed her. as for their glorificiation of vampires, she could never fully comprehend it. whenever she overheard them rave about ‘twilight,’ she couldn’t help but cringe at the inaccurate portrayal of ther species in the film.

           but there had to be at least one with a heart worth falling for. as someone who had never been in love, yanny had no notions on how to go about her quest. little did she know that love couldn’t be automatically sought out, that it came naturally and unexpectedly. but the poor vampire didn’t know any better, instead resolving to download tinder — the last place anyone should be looking for love. slender fingers scroll through potential lovers, most of them featuring unflattering photos. ❛ humans try so hard, ❜ she muses, emptying the last of the cup’s contents into the trash can. yanny departs from the cafe, still curiously swiping through her options, before colliding with an anonymous figure. their blood has a distinct shade, one that lingers in her perception longer than most. she glances up to see a brooding man, features mostly obscured by a red scarf. the fabric fails to conceal the frown on his face.

            ❛ sorry, ❜ she mutters without a tinge of sincerity, more occupied with finding her future love. the man says nothing as he lets her pass by, scarf flapping furiously in the wind.

            she plants herself on a bench, huddling tightly within the confines of her jacket. even though her supernatural status lent her to tolerate most temperatures, the weather today seemed more brutal than usual. winds howled in her ear as the cold pricked her lobe, no hat or earmuffs to provide protection. eyes light up in vague interest on a photo of a man with an exposed torso. while his facial structure is exquisite, most of the focus has been deliberately placed on his body. muscles have been finely sculpted though she does detect some use of photoshop. it made sense on a dating app, everyone determined to impress. yet his profile suggests differently, not much effort put into the small blurb of information. 'librarian, part-time model. high libido, low expectations.’

            it was perfect bait to lure her in. although the objective had been love, lust appeared to be right on the horizon. with a body like that, how could she resist ? her thumb moves in the indicated direction for a 'like,’ a notification on the screen indicating a match. success. a few brief messages are exchanged and she has herself a date, though both parties knew it was only a pretense. wind whirling in her ear, she decides to return home to prepare for the upcoming date. the man with the red scarf heads into the cafe she had been in earlier, ordering a plain black coffee as he watches out the window, a flurry of snow dancing in the sky.

            she’s seated across from him at an up-scale. they don’t say much, don’t need to. they’ve both executed this routine countless times before. her lips have been painted in oxblood red, lashes matte black. her body is sheathed by a form-flattering black dress, accented by a silver necklace that sits on her chest. the man — ahn hyunwoo as he introduced himself — dons all-black as well, from the blazer to the shirt beneath. it’s an extravagant place for a first date, but the man appears to spend his money liberally. she ponders how a librarian can afford such luxuries though his modeling career probably helped to an extent.

            the pair eats discreetly, yanny obligatorily dining on the human food set before her. none of it affects her palate, only a bland taste coating her tongue. she arrests a piece of salmon with her fork, idly tearing at the meat before lifting her eyes to pose a question.

            ❛ hyunwoo, have you ever been in love ? ❜

            ❛ yanny, is that really first date conversation ? ❜

            ❛ well, we both know there won’t be a second, so i might as well ask now. ❜

            ❛ smart girl. sexy girl. you’re dangerous, really. almost makes me want to take you on a second date after all. ❜

            ❛ answer the question, please. ❜

            ❛ i’ve been in lust. ❜

            ❛ me too. so no ? ❜

            ❛ yanling, i’m not sure what they think back there in china, but here in america, i can tell you that everyone is far too caught up in their own lives to possibly care more about another’s, you know, like that whole love ordeal. putting someone else before yourself. ❜

            ❛ it’s how we survive. putting ourselves first, ❜ her heritage as a vampire bleeds through, the mentality matching that of the species.

            ❛ surviving is one thing. living is another. ❜

            her fork clatters against the plate, not anticipating such wisdom from a tinder fling. over five hundred years she had survived, sustaining herself on the prey her brothers brought home to her. even when moving to america, her life had consisted of feeding on blood to strengthen her powers. but looking into her own heart, it was weak, empty. no stake had been plunged into it, and yet she felt deathly. still, she hadn’t learned any better, out with this man to follow the same routine of lust as she normally would. she had survived for centuries, but had she lived for even one day ?

            to live was to love. she realized that now as she prodded at the rest of her meal. the vampire couldn’t even fathom it, to place someone above her own animal instincts. yet it seemed much more fulfilling than this, than the endless conquest for blood and sex. even when her appetite was satiated, when would her heart ever be ? she looks at the human with his alluring features and pleasant scent. not only could she sleep with him tonight, but the vampire could feast upon his blood if she felt in a mood to. but no, yanny didn’t want to perpetuate this cycle of meaningless survival.

            ❛ well then, it’s about time i started then. living, you know. thank you for the dinner. good night, ❜ she rises from her seat, casually placing a kiss on hyunwoo’s cheek before leaving the restaurant.

            the cold bites at her skin, yanny scantily clad for the weather. earlier in the evening, the temperature had been fair enough for her to forgo a coat. now her pale arms were exposed to the fierce gusts of wind. heels sink into the snow as she attempts to find the nearest train station. even her supernatural body couldn’t withstand such a frigid climate. her chin tucks lower about to touch her chest, when a flourish of red wraps around her neck.

            fingers press at the fabric turning around to find the man from before — his red scarf firmly raveled around her.

[joh-ska]

I am Terra - Mass Effect Fanfiction

Losing both of your parents and having your twin brother put in a medically induced coma while being handed responsibility you are in no way prepared for and forced onto a ship full of near-strangers is not helpful to an insecure, genius engineer.

-or-

Terra Ryder is trying her best and, dammit, she hopes that's good enough because she's trying really hard not to cry.

Read on AO3.

Terra had only met Cora Harper briefly before she went into cryosleep.

At the time, Terra had been kneeling next to her brother’s cryopod with her omnitool out. She was performing her third check of the system’s code to make sure everything was alright and ready to go for the six century long journey out of this cesspool of toxic memories and monstrous bigotry and—

“Is there a problem with the pod?” Terra looked up and was floored. Smooth skin, short blond hair and warm, curious eyes. She wasn’t a stranger to attraction, but dios mío, ¿alguna vez has visto a alguien tan hermoso?

“I—ah, no. Nothing wrong. Just,” Terra coughed and shoved a hand into her dark hair, “checking it over. Making sure everything’s a-o-kay. Heh.”

“Right.” And whoa, her voice. There was a slight rasp as she drew out the word that had Terra’s face warming. “I’m Lieutenant Cora Harper. I don’t think we’ve met.”

“I know! I-I mean, we haven’t met. My dad mentioned you.” Terra scrambled to her feet and jerked her hand out in front of her. She winced, “I’m, uh, Terra Ryder. Recon specialist. It’s great to, ehem, meet you.”

Cora smiled with an eyebrow raised, and she felt her heart sink. She knew that look. That was the she’s a such a weirdo! look. A familiar look, if she was honest with herself.

“Should’ve known. You share an almost eerie resemblance to your father.” She grasped her hand firmly and shook it (Cora’s supposed to be an Asari Huntress how does she have such smooth hands!?). “I’ve heard good things about your time with the Prothean researchers.”

“Good things about my ability to protect lab coats from wild pyjack attacks?” Terra scoffed before she realized what she said and smiled awkwardly. “Sorry. Right. Um, yeah. If you think I look like my dad, wait until you see Baby.”

“Baby? Who’s—?”

“That would be me.” Terra could have kissed her brother for choosing that moment to join the conversation. “The name’s Sky Ryder. Or, if you ask my family, Baby.”

Baby just waltzed up to them with bright amber eyes and a blinding smile on his stupid, scarred, tattooed face. His hair, a lighter brown than hers, was stuck up in the same course curls he got from their abuelo at haphazard angles. He’d probably just gotten up, the lazy bum.

Terra rolled her eyes and relaxed. “You were supposed to be here an hour ago, Baby. We go to cryo in ten.”

He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his chest. “Sorry, lady, but I needed my beauty rest.” He dropped a kiss on Terra’s forehead (“Beauty rest, my ass,” she muttered. “We’re about to get six hundred years of rest.”) before releasing her and holding out his hand to Cora. “Lt. Harper, it’s a pleasure.”

“Uhm, oh. Yes. Likewise,” Cora flushed and Terra’s heart just shattered. The baby bro strikes again, it seems. “I look forward to working with you. Two. You two. Both of you. I should, uhm, go find your father. The Pathfinder. On the bridge. We’ll be heading out soon.”

“History in the making,” Terra acknowledged. Her lips stretched woodenly across her face in a way that made the scars on the right side of her face catch the light.

“Exactly,” Cora nodded. She caught Baby’s eye briefly. “I’ll see you two on the other side.”

Watching her walk away was a sight Terra would probably dream about for the next six hundred years.

“Your drooling,” Baby grinned.

Terra shoved him. “Shut up. Am not, you loser.”

“No, no, you definitely are. Can’t say I blame you, though.” He looked back at Cora’s retreating form speculatively. “I think she can bench press you.”

She groaned. “Don’t tell me that! Now it’s in my head, and I’m gonna go to bed all hot and bothered. I’m going to wake up in six hundred years all hot and bothered.”

Baby smirked. “I think she can bench press me. Hey, ouch!” He rubbed his shoulder and glared at her. “No juegues de manos!”

“I hate you. So much. Do you even try to be unattractive near me?” Terra crossed her arms and leaned against his cryopod. She sighed. “Forget it. I checked out your pod. It’s all set.”

“Hey, don’t worry. She may not be your type—” (“What are you talking about? She’s totally my type. That’s the problem.” — “Terra, your type is anything that breathes and thinks for itself.”) “—but that doesn’t mean you need to be so down about it. There’s plenty of aliens in the galaxy and probably more in Andromeda.”

He gave her the biggest shit-eating grin she’s ever seen, and she laughed. “What would papi say if he heard you encouraging me into xenophilia?”

-He’d say to make sure you’re at least biologically compatible first.- Their father’s voice said through their comms.

They both tensed and stared at each other wide-eyed. “Papi! Uh, Pathfinder, sir,” they said in sync.

A couple of the people in the cryobay glanced at them.

-At ease, children. Just checking in. You’re both scheduled to go into cryosleep soon. Are you ready?-

Terra glanced at her brother. He looked back at her with his brow arched slightly. His gaze was as heavy as it was imploring. She sighed. “Yeah. Did you, uh, get my things transferred? The two crates. The blue ones.”

-The crates full of chocolate and seeds?- Her dad laughed. She resolutely ignored the look Baby sent her. -Yeah, I got them. They’re secured in my quarters for you. What about you, Baby?-

“Is that gonna be a thing in Andromeda? Am I ever going to be called by my actual name?”

-No.- Their dad said.

“Not likely,” Terra grinned.

“Of course not,” he sighed. “And yeah. I’m good to go, papi. Though I could use a hug.”

-Hug your sister. I’ve got flight prep to go through. I’ll see you both when you wake up. Be safe. Pathfinder out.-

“An entire crate of chocolate,” Baby said immediately after their father signed off, and she knows it’s because he doesn’t want to hear her criticize the man, so she goes with it. Now isn’t the time to start a fight. Not before cryo. Not in front of all these strangers.

“Laugh all you want, but, when the repopulation effort kicks off, all those women on their periods will be coming to me with their credits.” Terra pushed herself off the pod and slapped her hand against it twice. “And, for the record, I’ve got all our spanish needs checked off in those seeds. Cilantro? Check. Pimiento? Check. Cebolla, ajo y chayote? Check, check and check. Also, cacao seeds. Can’t run out of chocolate.”

“Good to know I’m not the only one who thought ahead. There’s a year supply of tamales waiting for us in my storage crate.” Baby winked at her. “We’ll be eating like kings while everyone else is on nutrition paste.”

“That’s good to know. Just enough time to get a garden goin—”

A beep over the ark’s comms interrupted them. Immediately, it was like the easy comradery they had was sucked out of the air and airlocked into open space.

[All first-wave personnel report to the cryobay. Initiate first-wave cryosleep.]

“That’s us,” Terra said anxiously. She reached out and grabbed Baby’s hand in both of hers. It was comforting how similar their hands were: the same copper skin. Some freckles. Some moles. Some scars. Though his hand was bigger than hers, and it was somehow still less calloused.  Biotics. He was a way better biotic than she was. She could only move small objects around like a comb or datapad, while he could absolutely pulverize a small shuttle on his own. He didn’t need to tote a sniper rifle around when he could just magic his way out of danger. “We’re really doing this, huh?”

“What? Crossing dark space to a completely unknown, never before travelled galaxy with nothing but a couple of tamales and a crate of chocolate? Looks like it.” He smiled again, and it struck her how similar it looked to their mother’s smile. Anybody could look at them and say that Terra was the spitting image of their mother while Baby was a mini-Alec Ryder, but it was their smiles that said otherwise. Baby smiled like mami, and Terra? She’d only seen pictures of her father smiling freely, but it was definitely her smile she saw on his face.

“Sky,” she squeezed his hand tighter as her heartrate picked up, “I’m serious. This is dangerous. This is crazy.” She couldn’t breathe. Shit, was there an atmo breach? Why couldn’t she breathe? “I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you, and you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for dad, and dad wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for mam—”

“Okay, Terra,” Baby cut her off, “Calmate. Alright? Deep breaths.” He tugged her close and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re not here for me. You’re here for the adventure. You’re here to learn about new species and new biomes and new technology. You’re here because you love the Protheans. You’re here because you’re tired of your research being ignored. Your tired of being a Ryder in the Alliance. Okay? I convinced you to come, yeah, but you’re here for you. Not for me. That’s right, take another breath. Good.”

Terra took another breath and nodded.

“You good?”

“I’m good.”

“Good.” Baby stepped away from her and gestured to the cryopod next to his. “Hop in. I want to be the last face you see before you go to sleep, and you better be the first I see.”

“A hundred credit says I touch down planet side first,” she laughed as he helped her get into the pod. “Ya know, like I did back on Earth.”

“Two minutes. Just two minutes and you act like you completed the Boston Marathon. Unbelievable!"

“I have completed the Boston Marathon. Twice.”

“You know what, yeah. I’ll take the bet. I’ll kick your ass, too. Easiest hundred creds I’ll ever make. Now, lady, go to sleep. I’ll see you in, oh, six hundred years.”

His smiling face through the glass of the pod was the last thing Terra saw before she shut her eyes.